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Where to start reading Shirley Jackson

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Dismissed variously as a frumpy housewife, an oddball and a ‘genre writer’ by the male literary establishment, Shirley Jackson was overlooked for decades despite writing formidable gothic horror stories full of menace and dread. But now the author – whose work is still being re-issued, adapted, and re-read every autumn – is finally getting the credit she deserves.

But where do you start with the woman who wrote "not with a pen, but a broomstick”? If you're looking to read Shirley Jackson for the first time, it can feel daunting to know where to begin: novels or short stories? Most famous work or underrated gem? Here’s our guide to where to start with Shirley Jackson’s books to get the most out of your reading experience. 

The short answer

  • Best if you’re a complete beginner: The Haunting of Hill House (1959)
  • Best if you’re a Gothic horror enthusiast: The Sundial (1958)
  • Best if you love literary fiction: We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962)

Three places to start

Start with The Haunting of Hill House if you’re a complete beginner

Start with The Sundial if you’re a Gothic horror enthusiast

Start with We Have Always Lived in the Castle if you love literary fiction

If you’re looking to tackle Shirley Jackson’s entire catalogue, we have curated the below reading guide. We recommend starting with some of her most celebrated (and shortest) works, then moving on to her non-fiction and lesser-known writing.

A quick note: Shirley Jackson wrote hundreds of short stories, as well as children’s books. To be succinct – and, importantly, not to overwhelm you – we’ve just included Jackson’s novels, non-fiction and published collections in this list.

Frequently asked questions

How many books did Shirley Jackson write?

In total, Shirley Jackson wrote six novels, two memoirs, and around 200 short stories. From these short stories, there are currently five collections: The Lottery and Other Stories (1949), Come Along with Me (1968), Just an Ordinary Day (1996), Let Me Tell You (2015) and Dark Tales (2016). Four of these collections were published posthumously after her death in 1965.

What is Shirley Jackson’s most famous story?

The Lottery is considered Shirley Jackson’s most famous work, partly due to the intense public reaction that arose when it was first published in The New Yorker in 1963, where the magazine received over 300 complaints from readers and many cancelled their subscriptions in protest. However, The Lottery’s legacy has also endured because of its shocking plot, made all the more disturbing by Jackson’s sparse and matter-of-fact language, and its timeless critique of scapegoating, society’s customs, and the dark side of human behaviour.

What is Shirley Jackson’s best book?

While Shirley Jackson’s best book comes down to the reader’s personal taste, The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle are the most popular Shirley Jackson novels. Both books have had a significant cultural impact as classics in the horror genre, and are still resonating with readers and being re-issued with special editions to this day.

What is Shirley Jackson’s scariest book?

Choosing the most terrifying Shirley Jackson novel depends on what you’re most scared by: if you’re looking for a book that is full of psychological dread, The Haunting of Hill House is her most frightening work. If you’re looking for an unnerving book about human callousness, we recommend The Lottery, and for a Gothic setting imbibed with supernatural horror, we suggest The Sundial.